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Acquired syringomyelia in a dog.
1Department of Companion Animal and Special Species Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
|October 15, 1992
Summary
Acquired syringomyelia in a young Fox Terrier improved after surgical syringotomy for an intramedullary spinal cord cyst. Imaging confirmed cyst reduction, though definitive histologic diagnosis remained elusive.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Neurology
- Canine Spinal Cord Disorders
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Acquired syringomyelia is a rare condition characterized by fluid-filled cavities within the spinal cord.
- It can lead to progressive neurological deficits in dogs.
Observation:
- An 11-year-old Fox Terrier presented with progressive left pelvic limb paresis.
- Diagnostic imaging revealed an intramedullary lesion at the L2-L3 vertebral level.
Findings:
- Surgical syringotomy resulted in clinical improvement of the canine patient.
- Magnetic resonance imaging 7 months post-surgery showed a decreased cyst size.
- Histologic examination of the cyst wall biopsy did not yield a definitive diagnosis.
Implications:
- Surgical intervention can be effective in managing acquired syringomyelia in dogs.
- Serial MRI is valuable for monitoring treatment response.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the etiology and definitive histopathology of such spinal cord cysts.